The Effectiveness of Prescriber Utilization of Drug Monitoring Databases on Opioid Misuse
- Garcia C.A. ,
- Gregg K.M. and
- Wright L.K.
- Garcia C.A. ,
- Gregg K.M. and
- Wright L.K.
2018
Repository
Description
Background: Opioid misuse has become a widespread issue within American society. The addictive nature of these drugs lends to devastating consequences, including a rise in opioid overdoses and sequelae. Staggering statistics have gained national attention prompting the search for a solution. Specifically, state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been utilized as a tool to combat this problem. Each state has varying levels of prescriber involvement, with some being more successful than others. Objective: To determine a correlation between prescriber utilization of state’s PDMPs and decreased opioid misuse. Methods: A comparative analysis and Pearson correlation was used to evaluate measures of prescriber utilization with four measures of outcomes. Comparative analyses were performed by separating states into groups based on PDMP status of mandatory enrollment and mandatory query. A comparison of means was done via independent t-test to compare these groups in relation to the measured outcomes. The Pearson correlation compared both prescriber enrollment and prescriber use to the measured outcomes. State prescribing rates from 2006 to 2016 were graphed per state. PDMP operational dates were then plotted to determine a trend. Results: No statistical difference was found in measured outcomes between groups based on mandatory enrollment and mandatory query. There was a weak negative correlation between prescriber enrollment and prescribing rates, prescriber use and prescribing rates, prescriber use and % change prescription deaths, and prescriber enrollment and % change inpatient rates. Descriptive statistics for 12 states showed downward trends in opioid prescribing rates since the onset of an operational PDMP. v Conclusion: Although it is difficult to determine the full effects of prescriber use of PDMPs on opioid misuse, it is evident that the utilization of PDMPs is pertinent to resolving the widespread opioid epidemic;albeit, further studies must be done
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Record Data:
- Program:
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Location:
- Knoxville
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